Drought Information Statement for Western & Central Wyoming Valid December 5th, 2024 Issued By: WFO Riverton, WY Contact Information: This product will be updated by December 20, 2024, or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/riw/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. Extreme (D3) drought conditions in Johnson County, extreme western Fremont and extreme eastern Teton Counties. Improved in Natrona. Severe (D2) drought conditions continue across Natrona, Johnson, Fremont, Teton, Park, and Lincoln Counties. Drought conditions will stay fairly stable, with slight improvement across the far north. December will see drier conditions across much of the state. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None occurring. D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme eastern Teton, eastern Johnson and extreme western Fremont counties, as well as sections of eastern Wyoming. D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of Teton, Park, and Lincoln counties. Fremont, Natrona, Washakie, Hot Springs and Big Horn counties, as well the remainder of Johnson County. D1 (Moderate Drought): Remainder of Wyoming D0: (Abnormally Dry): A sliver of Sweetwater County. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: Lincoln, Sublette, Teton and Park counties No Change: Counties not listed elsewhere. Drought Improved: eastern Natrona and southwest Sweetwater Counties. Minor cold fronts over the past month have brought some snow, but not in any large amounts. This has led to some areas showing degradation, but overall kept the drought conditions fairly stable. Precipitation Most of Wyoming saw below normal precipitation over the past 30 days. Central areas and a sliver across the north did see above normal amounts, of 1-2 inches. Temperature The state saw above normal temperatures in the north and east. The values of 1 to 4 degrees above normal. The west and southwest had temperatures below normal. There is a nice bullseye of values 3 to 5 degrees (and more) below normal. Summary of Impacts (graphics on following slides) Hydrologic Impacts Conditions are expected to see normal to below normal wetness, with the drought staying the same for most areas. Agricultural Impacts USDA Wyoming Crop Progress and Condition Reports can be found here Fire Hazard Impacts Fire Hazards are lessening as the winds are not showing as much gustiness. (Most recent Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook) Other Impacts Wildland grasses and shrubs remain at elevated criteria across many areas in the state. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information Clear debris from around structures to protect from potential wildfires Precipitation Outlook Valid Dec 5 - 12 Seven-Day Precipitation Forecast The next storm system is set to arrive west Saturday night, (Dec 7th) lasting through the early part of the week. The eastern areas will see the storm arrive early Sunday (Dec 8th). There is a 70 to 90 % chance of accumulating snow, heaviest for higher elevations. Central portions of the state have very small chances for snowfall (30% or less). Mainly dry for the rest of this week except for some mountain snowfall. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Temperatures are trending to above normal values. There is a 40 to 60 percent chance of above normal temperatures. The darker orange is the higher chances. Precipitation across the northernmost areas of the state are trending to above normal chances. Otherwise, there is not a particular trend, with equal chances of below, at or above normal values expected. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Seasonal Outlook Drought conditions are expected improve, or even to end, across the central and north areas. Drought conditions are expected to persist for the east and south.